Diego Simeone has 'no words' after Barcelona limit Antoine Griezmann to late cameo

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone had "no words" after Barcelona's Antoine Griezmann was limited to a brief cameo in Tuesday's 2-2 draw at the Camp Nou.

Barca gave up more ground to Real Madrid in the Liga's title race on Tuesday after being held at home, with Saul Niguez's second-half penalty cancelling out Lionel Messi's 700th career goal.

The draw meant the Catalans stayed second in the standings on 70 points and leaders Real Madrid, who have 71, will go four points clear at the top with five games left if they beat Getafe at home on Thursday.

But it was Quique Setién's decision to throw on former Atletico Madrid star Griezmann in the final stages which surprised those on the Atleti bench. The France international departed the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in a deal worth more than £100million last summer, but has struggled to live up to that fee with just eight League goals in 28 starts since the move.

Asked about the decision to limit Griezmann to a cameo in the crunch title clash, his former boss Simeone said: "I have no words."

Barca went ahead at an empty Camp Nou in the 11th minute when Atletico striker Diego Costa knocked Messi's delivery from a corner into his own net.

Saul levelled soon after from the spot after the referee order a re-take when Costa's initial penalty was saved by Marc-Andre ter Stegen but the referee ruled the German had strayed from his line.

Barcelona then earned a penalty soon after the interval which Argentine Messi coolly converted for a remarkable 700th strike for club and country, only for Saul to strike again from the spot in the 62nd to earn a share of the points.

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